Bass Amp Discussion (MORE PAAAAAWR)

[UncleBBQ]

I am currently in the market for MORE POWER.
Currently running a Traynor YBA300 with TC210 and TC115 extension cabs. The tone is fantastic but I have had no luck with the YBA300, it's a running gag in my band because I've gone through four of them already (...L & M are suckers for Traynor replacements FYI).
Everyone says go SVT, but I want some different opinions.
Help?

[TweedBassman]

Get more efficient speakers... 610 ampeg is fantastic, super loud, and the ported bottom half makes it sound similar to a 1x15 + 4x10.

Btw... gone through 4 traynors? Need more explain.

[SmallEQ]

Sounds like your issue is reliability and not necessarily power, or is it both?

Efficient speaker cabinets can definitely help as that Traynor cab setup isn't particularly efficient (though not horrible either), but of course it doesn't mean a whole lot if the head keeps breaking down.

[UncleBBQ]

I would say its a mixture of reliability, power and (bad) luck. I more ask for power because I have to keep up with the guys in my band who have pretty powerful set ups.
Also just generally interested to get some opinions of good setups that aren't just an SVT Classic with an 8x10.

I've found/been pricing out an old school Big B 8x10 to try with the YBA300, of course, somewhere down the line I want to get a different head as well.
Money is somewhat the issue.

Umm not much to explain, I feel my luck with the "SVT Killer" has just been shit. I started off by renting a YBA200 and when a tube blew out, L&M upgraded me to the YBA300 at no extra cost.
Ever since, I've paid off the cabs and head but literally have killed more of these "killers" than I can explain.

The first one I had decided to die, stopped working entirely - not even the tech I brought it to was sure what happened.
The second one had a failure where I could not adjust the volume anywhere beyond 12 o'clock.
The third one, the amp overheated and the fuse blew up.
On the fourth one now. Lol.

[AxAxSxS]

Peavey classic 400 (the tweed amp in the middle) 400 watts all tube, 8 kt88's in the power section. Built like a tank, the only drawback is weight at around 96 lbs. that should handle what you are looking for. I paid a dollar per watt for mine. Might be hard to find but they do pop up from time to time.

[UncleBBQ]

MUST. FIND. SUNN.

I saw a 200S go not long ago, broke my heart.

[behndy]

..... buy a Rusty Box and run it through a giant power amp with some big ass speakers?

i ADORE my Rusty -> 500 watt per channel power amp -> 2 Aguilar GS112's + 1 Aguilar GS112.

stable as butts and so much oomph pa rarrrrGRUHNk up in there.

[TweedBassman]

Peavey 400's will shake the walls like no other.

[MaxMaps]

maybe a tube head is the problem? That's the chance you take gigging with it, well that the possibility of it getting stolen.

My vote is that if you want raw power go for a solid state head. Brian from Lightening Bolt uses an Ampeg with a huge wall of speakers that will make your chest rattle.

I can't really give anything better but if I was going to replace my setup I would probably do either these options.

Cheap Solid state.

Hartkie LM500 or LM1000

4x10 and 1x15

Expensive tube option

Venrellen Meatsmoke or Hovercaft Bass Amp

6x10 Emperor Cab


I know people like to talk smack about Hartkie but its cheep and you can find it anywhere in the US.

[AxAxSxS]

Peavey 400's will shake the walls like no other.

It's pretty insane. it actually has a switch that prevents it from putting out to much energy to the speakers so that they wont max out in case the cab you have can't handle it. I use 3 100 watt heads in the guitar rig and the 400 stays at about 2 on the volume knob and is more than enough to keep up with my uber stupid rig.

[Gone Fission]

On a principle similar to the idea "You are the consistent element in all of your bad relationships" I wonder if something about your setup that is consistently killing amps. Have you double checked that you have the impedance set right running the two cabs? A mismatch could be pushing the amps into a bad place. Is your wall voltage very high or very low?

[whiskey_face]

MUST. FIND. SUNN.

I saw a 200S go not long ago, broke my heart.

i has a 200s and for uber UBER loud. . .

this is not the bass amp you are looking for.
60 watts wont hold a candle to an SVT.
however, if you want the ultimate "hifi" bass amp EVER (imho) then the 200s is for you. that thing is an amazing AMAZING bass amp. at lower volumes.

maybe a nasty SS amp?

a carvin b1500 can be found for 350-450$ and I miss that amp every fucking day. that pig made 8x10s its bitch and laughed at 2x18 cabs. soooooo much fucking power. SOOO fucking loud. someday ill get another one.



"The B1500 delivers 700w
at 8Ω, 1250w at 4Ω and 1900w at 2Ω. @ THD <1.0%"

I dont doubt that one fucking bit.

[UncleBBQ]

On a principle similar to the idea "You are the consistent element in all of your bad relationships" I wonder if something about your setup that is consistently killing amps. Have you double checked that you have the impedance set right running the two cabs? A mismatch could be pushing the amps into a bad place. Is your wall voltage very high or very low?

Double checked everything, triple checked even.

[khaavren]

MUST. FIND. SUNN.

I saw a 200S go not long ago, broke my heart.

Ima just leave this here because I just grabbed this.... http://twitter.yfrog.com/z/nx7anlqj

[UncleBBQ]

I feel like I saw that exact one on Kijiji the other day? I've been on the hunt.

How's it sound?